I smacked his chest. “Use that word again and I might just reconsider.”
He just kept staring at me, so I sighed. “For fucking reals, Rocket. You saved me. You found a broken husk of a woman, and you breathed life into her again. You gave me a reason, for everything, for why things fell apart before you, for why I ended up here. A reason to live. So if you don’t ink me, I’ll just have to pick another biker-”
Lips on mine silenced me, and that’s probably a good thing.
Epilogue One
The clubhouse grounds wereliterally a building site, and we were two days past the demo, and three days into my prospect phase 2.0, and something amazing was about to happen.
We were all crowded into Harley’s shop, with my tattoo station set up there, and Has-Been with his, and I couldn’t believe it was happening. Literally couldn’t believe it.
V was choosing me. She was choosing me for more than just a few days, or months. She was choosing me forever. I finally found someone who wanted me, without limitations, or conditions. She loved me. She loved me as much as I loved her. It was a new experience to have that love reciprocated, maybe for both of us, so this night was a fucking epic milestone for her as well as me.
We’d planned to meet at my own tattoo place, even though I was planning on closing that down, to focus on my respray business, but as bikers started arriving there, it became clear that it was too fucking small to fit us all in. It took a few hours tomove us all here, with our kit, but finally we were all in one place, with beers, and… and my old lady. She really didn’t like the ‘old’ part of the name, but she got it. She’d be mine, and she’d grow old with me.
Since we’d sadly failed so far in creating life together, we were making it official now, while we could, because that baby thing? That was still the fucking plan. The sooner the better.
“You ready, brother?” Has-Been was standing at the tattoo station, brandishing his own tattoo kit, because V had insisted on mine being done first, and I was cool with that. Someone had passed me an alcohol-free beer, like that shit Ice drinks, but fuck that. I was drinking coffee for now, and I’d have beer once V’s tat was done.
“Can you do my name really big? Like just dominating his body?”
Laughter filled the space, and even though I knew Harley was edgy about having the club here like this, because it was pretty clear there was a club connection with his business now, I could also see how much he loved this family all being in one place. We were still a dysfunctional family right now, but it was improving.
Henley was here, even though he was half with his bestie, messaging her constantly, and frowning with worry at every response. I appreciated his presence. Even though these kinds of things were generally a club event, personal things like family in need were respected.
“Wait… I’m not just doing a V?”
She laughed, stroking her fingers over my chest, sending tingles across my skin in their wake. Jesus, don’t get a stiffy, donotget a stiffy. I held my breath, fighting the way her touch made me feel, because you don’t live that shit down when you’re surrounded by everyone like this.
“You’d better just do a V. That’s why it has to be big, see. He's got plenty of room just here.” Her fingers trailed over my skin again, and I shrugged, trying to keep my focus on their words.
“Do it as big as she wants. I’m good.”
“See? He likes it big.”
More laughter followed her words, her grin widening as she felt their acceptance as one of them, and I heard Stag start to say something obnoxious, but his words choked off with a grunt, so someone thankfully shut him up.
“Prick,” I heard him curse at whoever the hell just rescued our ears from his verbal assault.
“You’re next, baby. How big do you think you’re getting it? I can make demands too.”
“I also like it big, Rocket. You never disappoint.”
This time the sound filling the air was groans and fake gagging. I fucking loved these guys. Okay, I loved a few of them, and I was starting to like others. It was still a strange place to be. Not the same camaraderie as the old chapter, but then a few of them were here to witness this too.
Torch was hanging with Micro, and Ryder and Has were here with me. The surprise was Ice, but he was here with his old lady, who had been having a quiet chat with Henley, before things got started. Maybe she was going to help his friend. I had no idea, see, I wanted to know, but nosiness wasn’t my thing. He’d tell me if I needed to know.
I glanced at him again, as I relished the burn of the tattoo needle branding me with my old lady’s name.
“Brother, if you need to go to her, we’re good.”
His head lifted, and he grimaced. “I’m being rude. I’m sorry. She’s… I don’t know. Scared. Hurting. Depressed. I don’t know. I’m afraid if she’s alone too long…” he swallowed hard and glanced at his phone, “I just feel better when she’s beside me.”
It hit me then, the thing that’d been staring me in the face, but I was too dumb to see it.
“You love her.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Obviously. She’s my best friend. We grew up together.”
